With a diplomatic flurry, European leaders will push China on peacemaking claim
- Leaders of Spain, France and the European Commission will travel to Beijing in coming weeks and repeat their calls that China not provide arms to Russia
- The Europeans will also try to gauge whether China is serious about assisting with peace efforts in Ukraine
European leaders are heading to Beijing in their droves to test for substance in China’s self-appointed status as a global peacemaker.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will sit down with Chinese leader Xi Jinping this week. Next week, French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen will follow suit.
Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell will head to Beijing – likely en route to the G7 foreign ministers summit in Japan on April 16 – for “strategic dialogue” with foreign minister Qin Gang.
Each will attempt to convince China not to provide arms to Russia, amid fears in Europe that such a move could help start World War III.
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Russia-Ukraine war discussed in Chinese and EU leaders’ meeting amid rising tensions
There is belief in Western European capitals that China wading in militarily would tip the balance permanently in Moscow’s favour, while it could also usher in a broader conflict involving Nato and the United States.